Madeline smiled as if she’d just heard the answer she’d been expecting. “I don’t doubt you would. But the thing about working when you’re under the weather is you can do it until you can’t. Go ahead—you’ve been working like crazy over the last few weeks. You deserve some time off.” She picked up Lexi’s mug. “Here, I’ll put this to-go.”
Before Lexi could protest, Madeline was gone, off to fill the to-go cup behind the counter. And before she could even have a minute to think about what she wanted to do next, the front door opened and Jason stepped through. He was all smiles, his eyes going right to Lexi.
“Hey!” he said.
She glanced behind the counter, all of the female baristas watching Jason with the same dreamy smile. Part of Lexi was a little thrilled at their jealousy.
“Hey,” said Lexi as he sat down.
Jason looked her over, and his expression turned from excitement to concern. “All right, what’s up?”
Lexi didn’t like lying, but she knew she’d have to think of one, and fast.
“Um, do you know the name of a doctor around here?”
“A doctor? Why?”
“Because I’m feeling kind of sick. I’m sure it’s nothing, but I wanted to get checked out to be sure.”
“Definitely. Hold on.” He took out his wallet and removed a card he had stuffed in there among others. “This is the doctor my uncle goes to. He specializes in our kind, and he’s discreet. Give him a call.”
Lexi took the card, the name “Dr. Williams” written on the front, along with an address and some other information.
“Thanks,” she said, tucking the card into her pocket. “But it’s probably nothing.”
“Doesn’t hurt to check. And one of us getting sick is the last thing we need.”
“Anyway,” said Lexi, eager to change the subject. “What’s up?”
The smile returned to his face. He took his messenger bag and withdrew his laptop, opening it up and clicking around.
“So,” he said. “Work’s been going well—really well. I landed a few new clients for my uncle and put together a few deals that are going to really bring in some cash. So, as a nice little reward, he offered to forward me the down payment for something.”
He turned the laptop, revealing a realtor’s website. The pictures on the screen were of a vast apartment with a killer view.
Lexi realized what it was right away. “This is the place? The apartment on Cherry Street?”
“That’s the one,” he said. “My uncle did the down payment today, and it’ll be paid off as soon as these deals are finalized. And I just got back from signing the contract—we can move in today.”
“That’s...that’s amazing!”
“Isn’t it? We can sell the old apartment, and once we’re moved in, we can start talking about you going to school. How does that sound?”
“Like the best thing ever.”
“Then let’s make it happen. Anyway, I got some stuff to take care of before the end of the day. You get the apartment and start to pack up. And don’t forget about the doctor, all right?”
“All right. See you soon.”
Then he did something that Lexi wasn’t expecting at all. He stood up, swooped in, and kissed her on the lips. Her eyes went wide, and as soon as he took his head away, she could see that nearly every pair of eyes in the place was on her and Jason.
“Later,” he said as if nothing important had happened.
And then he was gone.
“Ooh la la,” said Madeline from behind the counter. She came over and set the to-go cup on the table, the rest of the girls there laughing good-naturedly.
Lexi was embarrassed and excited all at once. But she didn’t want to stick around—she wanted to see the doctor, to make sure that nothing serious was going on.
Once she was outside, she took out her phone and called the number on the card. A receptionist answered the line, and Lexi explained her situation.
“We actually just had a cancellation,” she said. “Can you make it now?”
“I definitely can.”
She hung up and checked the address on the card, flagging down a taxi and hurrying to the location. The office was in a nondescript building, and she didn’t waste any time getting inside. The waiting room was a small space, nothing there giving any indication that it was a shifter doctor.
That is, aside from the scent in the air.
The receptionist gave her some information to fill out, Lexi relieved when she saw a spot on the paper for her to mark down